A bill that would allow California physicians to help terminally ill patients end their lives is struggling to gain enough support ahead of a legislative vote Tuesday.

A bill that would allow California physicians to help terminally ill patients end their lives is struggling to gain enough support ahead of a legislative vote Tuesday.

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Updated: 9:27 AM PDT Jul 7, 2015

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WEBVTT POINTS TO 17683. HAPPENING TODAY, CALIFORNIA'S SO-CALLED RIGHT TO DIE BILL HEADS TO THE ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE. LISA: THE ISSUE HAS BEEN WIDELY DEBATED STATEWIDE AND NATIONWIDE WHETHER DOCTORS SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS END THEIR LIVES. KCRA 3'S MIKE TESELLE IS LIVE AT THE STATE CAPITOL WITH WHAT HURDLES THE BILL IS ALREADY SEEING. MIKE: THE LATEST REPORT SUGGESTS THE RIGHT TO DIE PROPOSAL IN CALIFORNIA IS ON LIFE-SUPPORT, I.E., IT IS STRUGGLING TO GET ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS OUT OF COMMITTEE. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT COULD BECOME EVEN CLEARER THIS AFTERNOON. THAT IS BECAUSE THE STASIS EMILY HELPED -- EXPECT FURTHER TO DISCUSS THIS WITH A HEARING SCHEDULED AT 1:30 THIS AFTERNOON. SUPPORTERS HAD HOPED THE CASE OF BRITTANY MAYNARD WOULD LEAD TO LEGISLATION ALLOWING A LEGAL WAY TO END A LIFE IN CALIFORNIA WITH DR.-PRESCRIBED MEDICATION. MAYNARD WAS A 29-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO WAS TERMINALLY ILL WHO MOVED TO OREGON TO END HER LIFE THERE BECAUSE IT IS LEGAL THERE. HOWEVER, OPPONENTS OF THIS PROPOSAL, LIKE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, HAVE ARGUED, ONE, THIS PROPOSAL IS ESSENTIALLY A FORM OF ASSISTED SUICIDE AND TWO, IT GOES AGAINST GOD'S WILL. A VOTE ON THIS PROPOSAL HAS ARE READY BEEN DELAYED ONCE BEFORE. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF AT TODAY'S COMMITTEE HEARING THIS AFTERNOON WHETHER A VOTE

California right-to-die bill up for legislative vote

A bill that would allow California physicians to help terminally ill patients end their lives is struggling to gain enough support ahead of a legislative vote Tuesday.